Energy: Common Sense for Concerned Americans

Congratulations to Robert Smith, Ph.D., P.E and son Hopper for writing and publishing this concise and informative paper about energy: "how much there is, what types there are, how much is being used, who controls it, and what options are available to Americans". This paper contains an incredible amount of useful information to help you develop an informed opinion about such issues as; "Cap and Trade", Renewables, "Global Warming", etc. The paper will be posted permanently under "Articles of Interest". This read is time very well spent.

Green Fairy Tales

This is an article that evaluates the Obama administration's energy policy and the author's critical analysis of the plan. This is a lengthy article. If you don't have time to read the entire article, read the section entitled "More Renewable Energy". This is the best explanation of the impracticality of solar energy that I have read to date. The link is:

http://www.thenewamerican.com/economy/markets-mainmenu-45/1221-obamas-energy-plan

Truth Mongering and Health care

According to the president, "the public option is not your enemy; it is your friend." And the notion that "a public option is somehow a Trojan horse for a single-payer system" is an "illegitimate concern," he claims. But to borrow from the president's charges against the "fear mongers," he is "either trying to mislead you or doesn't have his facts straight."

http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=330042148785973

In his remarks to the American Medical Association, he told the nation's doctors, "The public option is not your enemy; it is your friend."

Sort of like, I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you. Thoreau had it right when he wrote, "If I knew for a certainty that a man were coming to my door with the conscious purpose of doing me good, I would run for my life."

http://townhall.com/content/ee28b049-116d-4891-a738-af08dd1ea4f3

There Are Free Market Health Care Solutions

The American Thinker is becoming my favorite blog. Every day they provide very insightful and informative articles. This particular article, written by a physician from Oregon, provides many alternative proposals to government-run/supervised health care.

http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/06/a_real_free_market_health_care_1.html

Obama's Rock is Not Capitalism

In April, the president gave a speech where he used a "Jesus's Sermon on the Mount" analogy. His pillars upon which we would rebuild our economy include new rules to regulate Wall Street, and new government spending on health care, education and the environment. A capitalistic system would rely on competition and innovation to bring progress and lower prices. A socialist system allocates scarce resources relying on government coercion. Brian Wesbury's piece makes the case that Obama's model for restoring our economy is not capitalism. Read on:

http://spectator.org/archives/2009/06/06/obamas-rock-is-not-capitalism

The Stimulus Story

It is the month of August; a resort town sits next to the shores of a lake. It is raining, and the little town looks totally deserted. It is tough times, everybody is in debt, and everybody lives on credit.
Suddenly, a rich tourist comes to town. He enters the only hotel, lays a 100 dollar bill on the reception counter, and goes to inspect the rooms upstairs in order to pick one. The hotel proprietor takes the 100 dollar bill and runs to pay his debt to the butcher. The Butcher takes the 100 dollar bill, and runs to pay his debt to the pig raiser. The pig raiser takes the 100 dollar bill, and runs to pay his debt to the supplier of his feed and fuel. The supplier of feed and fuel takes the 100 dollar bill and runs to pay his debt to the town's prostitute that in these hard times, gave her "services"
on credit. The hooker runs to the hotel, and pays off her debt with the 100 dollar bill to the hotel proprietor to pay for the rooms that she rented when she brought her clients there. The hotel proprietor then lays the 100 dollar bill back on the counter so that the rich tourist will not suspect anything. At that moment, the rich tourist comes down after inspecting the rooms, and takes his 100 dollar bill, after saying that he did not like any of the rooms, and leaves town. No one earned anything. However, the whole town is now without debt, and looks to the future with a lot of optimism. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how the United States Government is doing
business today.

Insights from the Wall Street Journal Editorial page

"Paygo" sounds like a great idea, until you understand it's history and how it works. Read on:

WSJ.com - Opinion: The 'Paygo' Coverup

With the current "crisis", the ill-conceived government reaction, and the ensuing economic downturn, the unfunded liabilities of the federal programs -- such as Social Security, civil-service and military pensions, the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation, Medicare and Medicaid -- are over the $100 trillion mark. Get ready for inflation and higher interest rates. Do I have your attention yet? Read on: WSJ.com - Opinion: Get Ready for Inflation and Higher Interest Rates

Yet another perspective on socialized medicine and how we can stop it:

WSJ.com - Opinion: How to Stop Socialized Health Care

How did we get here?

Philosopher Bertrand Russell suggested that "Men are born ignorant, not stupid. They are made stupid by education." And, it was Albert Einstein who explained, "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." So which is it -- stupidity, ignorance or insanity -- that explains the behavior of my fellow Americans who call for greater government involvement in our lives?

Who will you buy your next car from?

This article makes the case for boycotting any future purchase from Chrysler or GM.  There are some great insights into the Obama administration's handling of the auto bailouts.  

http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/06/the_ethical_case_for_boycottin_1.html

Further perspectives on nationalized healthcare

Obama's Health Care reform "Paints the Roses Red"
http://townhall.com/content/f4972949-bab0-4195-a9a4-f35aca8165fd

Dear Mr. President, what does "health reform" mean?
http://townhall.com/content/3d1350df-8a85-4c3a-be62-79002d15c842